Interstellar Comet to Make Closest Approach to Mars Friday, Observed by International Fleet of Spacecraft
A comet originating from outside our solar system will make its closest approach to Mars on Friday, passing within 18 million miles (29 million kilometers) of the red planet. The event is drawing the attention of multiple spacecraft orbiting adn stationed on Mars, as well as those en route to other destinations, offering a rare prospect to study a visitor from another star system.
Known as 3I/Atlas, this is only the third confirmed interstellar object detected passing through our solar system. Its flyby provides scientists with a unique chance to analyze the composition and behavior of material not formed within our sun’s orbit, possibly revealing clues about the formation of planetary systems beyond our own. The comet is traveling at a remarkable 193,000 mph (310,000 kph) and will reach its closest point to the sun at the end of October,before making its closest approach to Earth in December at 167 million miles (269 million kilometers).
Discovered in July,3I/Atlas poses no threat to earth or any planets. Both of the european Space agency’s (ESA) Mars-orbiting satellites are currently focused on observing the comet, and NASA’s assets at Mars are also contributing to the data collection. ESA’s Juice spacecraft, currently traveling to Jupiter and its moons, will continue monitoring the comet throughout November.
Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope estimate the comet’s nucleus to be no larger than 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) in diameter, and potentially as small as 1,444 feet (440 meters) across.The data gathered from this interstellar visitor will help astronomers better understand the prevalence and characteristics of objects ejected from other star systems.
